The American Citizen Services Unit provides notarial services during normal working hours by appointment only. Appointments must be made online at the ACS Appointment System Website. Please click here to make an appointment.

U.S. Consular Officers may provide specific notarial services authorized by relevant U.S. law and Department of State policy for all U.S. citizens. In addition, they can provide services for any person regardless of nationality so long as the document being notarized is required for use within the jurisdiction of the United States and is authorized by relevant U.S. law.

For detailed information about Notarial and Authentication Services of U.S. Consular Officers Abroad please visit the U.S. State Department’s official website. 

Services we CANNOT provide: 

U.S. law precludes the provision of notarial services in certain cases. Among others, Notarizing Officers cannot provide notarial services in connection with:

• Authentication, certification, or certified copies of public documents issued in the United States such as birth, residency, marriage, divorce, and death certificates; commercial records, driver’s license, and other credentials. Such documents must be authenticated in the United States for use overseas; for additional details, please visit the Department of State’s Notarial and Authentication Services or the Office of Authentication, or call +1 202-485-8000. Please visit the National Center for Health Statistics webpage Where to Write for Vital Records for state specific information on how to request copies of vital records.

• Academic credentials, transcripts or degrees: Contact the educational institution which issued the document. For further information visit the Department of State’s website Authentication of American Academic Credentials for Use Abroad.

• Certified true copies of non-U.S. documents, such as Lao birth certificates

• U.S. Apostilles:  Information on Apostilles can be found on the Department of State webpage Judicial Assistance – Notarial and Authentication (Apostille).

• Signature or Medallion guarantees:  A Medallion Signature Guarantee is not a notarial service, but rather a special procedure related to securities, which can only be performed by an authorized representative of a financial institution participating in a medallion program approved by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).
• Statements beyond the Consular Officer’s knowledge: e.g. that the document satisfies a specific legal requirement, that a person is the spouse of another, or an individual is an employee of a certain business or corporation.

Services we CAN provide:

Affidavit

An affidavit is a sworn statement. Affidavits may be used in many different situations for many different purposes. Using our blank affidavit form (PDF 70.5 KB), write out your statement, but do not sign the form. You will need to sign it in front of a Consul.

We provide the following types of affidavits:

• Affidavit that you are legally free to marry

Lao law requires all foreigners who marry Lao nationals in Laos, to first prepare a sworn Affidavit of Marriage. If you would like to use the affidavit of marriage prepared by the Embassy, Marriage Affidavit (PDF 117 KB), please check with the authorities first to confirm that it meets their requirements. The affidavit(s) must then be notarized by their own country’s embassy, affirming that they are legally free to marry.

• Power of Attorney

A power of attorney allows you to designate someone to take legal action on your behalf. A common example of this is empowering someone else to buy or sell property in the U.S. in your name while you are overseas. We cannot advise you on the specific language or content of a power of attorney, so you may wish to consult a lawyer or other appropriate advisor before coming to see us to have your power of attorney notarized.

Blank Power of Attorney forms are available online (PDF 170 KB), or you may use one supplied to you by your attorney, bank, or company.

Please fill out the form before you come to our offices, but do not sign it in advance. You will sign in the presence of a Consul.

• Acknowledgement of signature
  

An Acknowledgement of signature verifies a particular person signed a given document such as a deed or bill of sale. We can notarize only the signatures of those who are present to sign in front of a Notarizing Officer. If you are signing on behalf of a corporation, LLC, etc., you are required to provide proof that you are authorized to sign on behalf of the organization.

• Certified true copies of U.S. passports
• Certified true copies of original documents and foreign passports for use with Social Security applications when requested by FBU Manila (No fee required)
• Form DS-3053Statement of Consent for issuance of a U.S. passport to a minor (No fee required)

Please note that the Consular Section is not authorized to certify copies of documents issued by a foreign or domestic agency. To obtain certifications in these cases, please have the office that issued the documents certify them.

In order to receive notarial services from the Consular Section you must:

• Understand your document. Consular staff cannot explain the contents to you;
• Complete the document with the appropriate names, places, and dates before you arrive (but do not sign it; you must sign in front of a Notarizing Officer);
• Include all pages, information and accompanying documents;
• Organize all pages in order and the page(s) that requires the notary seal must be clearly flagged on the edge of the document;
• Ensure name of the individual signing the document matches the name on the presented identification (i.e., passport or other government issued ID);
• If you are signing on behalf of a corporation, LLC, etc., you must bring proof that you are authorized to sign on behalf of the organization; e.g. business card and/or articles of incorporation etc.
• If your document requires witnesses, please ensure they each have a separate scheduled appointment and appear with a valid government issued photo ID;
• Do not sign your document until requested to do so by a Consular Officer.

Refusal of Notarial Services

Please be aware that a consular officer may refuse any notary service when:

• The document will be used in transactions that may be prohibited by U.S. law, treaty or foreign law;
• The host country does not authorize the performance of the service;
• The document is blank or incomplete;
• The officer believes that the document is suspicious, potentially illegal, or detrimental to the best interests of the United States;
• The officer does not understand the document, due to language or any other reason;
• The officer believes the customer does not understand the document or is acting under duress;
• The officer providing the notarial service has a disqualifying interest;
• Invalid, inadequate or insufficient proof of identification is presented, or proof of a corporate title or position is lacking or inadequate.

Refunds are NOT provided when a notary is refused. Customers must ensure they are in compliance with all of the above listed prerequisites.

Prepare for your appointment:

On the date of your appointment please bring with you:

• The unsigned, completed, and clearly flagged/organized document(s) you need notarized;
• Your valid government-issued photo ID; (Note: If your document references a specific form of ID you are required to present it at your appointment. A copy of the ID will not be accepted)
• One photocopy of the bio-data page of the government-issued photo ID you will present with your document;
• The fee of $50 PER NOTARY SEAL, payable in cash (USD or Lao KIP) or by credit card.
• Your (and your witnesses) printed appointment confirmation page(s).

Please be prepared to spend at least one-half hour to two hours at the embassy. Wait times are dependent upon the amount of notaries needed by each customer. ACS can notarize multiple documents during one scheduled appointment.

U.S. Passport Applications and Applications for Consular Reports of Birth Abroad CANNOT be accepted during a “Notary or Other Services” appointment.